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How to Get a Career in Human Rights
2 June 2014
In association with:
Human Rights Lawyers Association
human rights lawyers association
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How to Get a Career in Human Rights
2 June 2014
Contents
The Law Society’s International Action Team ........................................................................ 3
About the Human Rights Lawyers’ Association ..................................................................... 4
Biographies:
Bill Bowring ........................................................................................................................... 6
Sara Chandler ....................................................................................................................... 8
Samantha Ede .................................................................................................................... 11
Alison Ewart………………………………………………………………………………………….13
Jonathan Exten - Wright……………………………………………………………………………15
Alison Gerry ........................................................................................................................ 17
Camilla Graham Wood ........................................................................................................ 19
Nikolaus Grubeck................................................................................................................ 22
Tim Jewell ........................................................................................................................... 24
Matthew Jury ...................................................................................................................... 26
Alastair Logan ..................................................................................................................... 28
Cris McCurley ..................................................................................................................... 30
Jesse Nicholls ..................................................................................................................... 32
Angela Patrick ..................................................................................................................... 34
Astrid Perry ......................................................................................................................... 37
Phil Shiner .......................................................................................................................... 39
Martha Spurrier ................................................................................................................... 41
Keir Starmer KCB QC ......................................................................................................... 43
Adam Wagner ..................................................................................................................... 45
Nick Williams ...................................................................................................................... 47
Human Rights Organisations .............................................................................................. 49
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The Law Society’s International Action Team
The Law Society's International Action Team (IAT) is a network of pro bono lawyers and law
students who assist with the Society’s human rights work. The Law Society has trained over
1,000 members for the IAT.
The IAT assists the Law Society with international human rights work, mainly in relation to
supporting lawyers who are at risk of intimidation, harassment or violence around the world,
but also in opposing wider breaches of the rule of law.
The aim is to provide international human rights opportunities for all, regardless of your level
of qualification or previous human rights experience, if any.
The Law Society's human rights aims:
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Assist solicitors/future solicitors in better understanding and responding to the impact
of human rights in their practice area and their daily work
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To create opportunities for solicitors/future solicitors to be involved in human rights
whether that's on a pro bono basis or whether for their career development
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And fundamentally to promote and protect the legal profession as a guardian of
human rights. Lawyers have a key role to play in the administration of justice and it
is often a cynical ploy by states to influence court cases and the administration of
justice by attacking lawyers
Interventions
Members of the IAT are involved in researching or drafting interventions. A dedicated group
of researchers monitor for violations, investigate them and alert the network. One volunteer
drafts a letter that will be signed by the President of the Law Society on behalf of the
profession.
The Law Society writes interventions to governments and responsible authorities:
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in support of lawyers whose human rights have been violated;
opposing restrictions on the freedom and independence of the legal profession;
challenging threats to the independence of the judiciary and the proper
administration of justice; and
opposing systemic or gross violations of the rule of law.
To join the IAT, you will first have to attend our intervention training. To receive notification
of the next training session, volunteering/job opportunities, other events and Law Society
human rights news, please contact sarah.j.smith@lawsociety.org.uk.
Follow the Law Society’s human rights work on social media:
twitter: http://twitter.com/LSHumanRights
LinkedIn Group: http://www.linkedin.com/e/-j5w2ij-gjmv38bj-47/vgh/3769243/
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human rights lawyers association
About the Human Rights Lawyers’ Association
The HRLA’s principal objective is to promote, protect and develop effective legal protection
of human rights and fundamental freedoms within the UK legal framework and system of
government.
The HRLA is a forum for those involved in the law and legal professions to discuss human
rights issues. It facilitates the sharing of knowledge and ideas about human rights law and
fosters the exchange of views between specialists from different areas of expertise and the
wider legal community.
The HRLA aims to further research, education and training in all areas of human rights law;
it collaborates with organisations whose objectives are similar to those of the HRLA; it
supports students in their human rights work in the UK and abroad; it organises critical and
constructive seminars, lectures, workshops and debates about topical human rights issues.
The HRLA seeks to respond quickly to any developments that affect human rights law in the
UK. This may be a judgment of the House of Lords or the European Court of Human Rights,
or evolving Government policy. The events based on these developments are free, or
subsidized, for HRLA members and strive to create a forum for interactive discussion and
debate.
Past events include: The HRLA 2013 Judicial Review Competition, We Shall Not Be Moved:
Balancing the right to protest with the rights and freedoms of others, Human Rights and
Cyberspace, Dinner in Honour of Sir Nicholas Bratza, A Consideration of the Family
migration Changes and Article 8- Where do we go from here? Time to Stop Twittering
On…Is it possible to strike a balance between the right to free speech and the regulation of
social media?
For upcoming events see www.hrla.org.uk/events
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts
which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which
human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and
want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people
Preamble, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
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The Human Rights Lawyers’ Association Bursary Scheme
The Human Rights Lawyers’ Association recognises that those without independent financial
backing are sometimes unable to take up internships, work placements and other either
unpaid or poorly paid work in human rights law. They may miss out on these opportunities
and be disadvantaged when applying for jobs within the human rights field as a result.
To assist people in this position, in 2006 the HRLA established a bursary scheme to assist
law students, either those currently studying (undergraduate degree, postgraduate studies or
LPC/BVC/Law Conversion Course) or those who have recently graduated, in undertaking
such work. Each year the HRLA provides around 5 awards (short listed from over 100
applicants) of approximately £1000. The bursary money is used to enable the successful
applicants to undertake work related to human rights law that they would otherwise be
unable to afford to do. That work need not take place in the United Kingdom, but it must be
relevant to human rights law in the United Kingdom.
Each year the HRLA will provide around 5 awards from a maximum annual bursary fund of
around £6,000, provided there are suitable applicants. A single award will not normally total
more than £1,000.
In recent years recipients of the bursary award have worked in human rights organisations
all over the world, including:
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The Mental Disability Advocacy Centre in Budapest, Hungary
Medical Justice in London, UK
The India Centre for Human Rights in Law in Mumbai, India
The AIRE Centre in London, UK
Human Rights Watch in Washington DC, USA
The Death Penalty Project in Kingston, Jamaica
Bail for Immigration Detainees in London, UK
Defence for Children International in Geneva, Switzerland
The South African Human Rights Commission in Cape Town, South Africa
JUSTICE in London, UK
The Registry of the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg
The Forced Marriage Unit in London, UK
The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People in Belfast, Northern
Ireland
The Legal Resources Centre in Cape Town, South Africa
Please see the bursary section of the website for the detailed policy document and
application form, and for reports from previous bursary recipients. If you have any questions
about the scheme, please, in the first instance, consult the policy document, which should
answer all your questions.
(http://www.hrla.org.uk/Bursary.php)
Applications for the 2014 scheme are now closed but please check the website for details of
the 2015 scheme.
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Bill Bowring
Academia
Professor Bowring is Professor of Law at Birkbeck College, University of London where he
teaches Human Rights, Public International Law and Minority Rights. He previously taught at
the University of East London, Essex University, the University of North London, and London
Metropolitan University. He is also a practising barrister specialising in human rights,
representing applicants against Russia, Georgia and Latvia, at the European Court of
Human Rights, and is founder and Chair of the International Steering Committee of the
European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC). He has more than 90 publications,
including The Degradation of the International Legal Order? The Rehabilitation of Law and
the Possibility of Politics (Routledge, 2008). His Law Rights and Ideology in Russia:
Landmarks in the Destiny of a Great Power was published in April 2013, also from
Routledge. He advises the Council of Europe, EU, OSCE and UN on human rights and
minority rights. He was a founding member of the Bar Human Rights Committee, and is
currently a member of its Executive Committee. He is also a Trustee of the Redress Trust
(Reparation for Torture Survivors), is International Secretary of the Haldane Society of
Socialist Lawyers, and President of the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy
and Human Rights (ELDH). He has been working regularly in Russia since 1983, and
speaks Russian.
1. Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
Nuala Mole, Philip Leach, Karinna Moskalenko, Kirill Koroteev, Anna Stavitskaya, Yelena
Liptser, Irina Khrunova, Daria Trenina
2. When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
In 1986 when I was surcharged £105,000 and costs by Margaret Thatcher for “wilful
misconduct”, was faced with a second surcharge, and explored with Sally Dollé whether
to take a case to Strasbourg; then in 1988 when I was asked to go on a mission to Israel
and Palestine. I then became active in Kurdish Human Rights Project, took many cases
to Strasbourg, and started teaching human rights to undergraduates at UEL, both in
1992
3. Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
In 1976 to 1985 I was a volunteer at Brixton Advice Centre; worked pro bono for KHRP;
and still do so for EHRAC
4. What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far?
Founding EHRAC in 2002-3
5. What has been the low-point?
Losing Zhdanoka v Latvia in the Grand Chamber (Judge Rozakis who led the dissent
described the majority judgment as “dubious and obscure”)
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6. Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
Whether the UK will leave the ECHR system
7. What is your favourite human right?
Linguistic rights under the European Languages Charter (ECRML)
8. Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
I am Founder and Chair of EHRAC since 2003, Trustee of Redress since 1993, and
Trustee of Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights since 2012
9. What is your dream job?
The one I have now
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
Two days ago
11. What was the last book you read?
Ed Bates The Evolution of the ECHR
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Professor Sara Chandler
Academia
Sara is Visiting Professor of Clinical Legal Education at London South Bank University,
working in the Legal Advice Clinic where student volunteers provide free legal advice.
Sara worked at North Lewisham Law Centre from 1982 to 1992, and at Plumstead Law
Centre from 1998 to 2003. She was Vice Chair of Law Centres Federation from 2000 to
2002.
Sara has experience in training international pro bono lawyers, and has a particular interest
in Uganda, Zambia and Nigeria where she has worked with local Law Societies, Law
Schools, NGO’s and others in establishing networks of legal aid providers, and pro bono
schemes.
She is an active member of the Global Alliance for Justice Education and the Clinical Legal
Education Organisation (UK) and participates in the Public Interest Lawyers network, the
International Journal of Clinical Legal Education, and Association of Law Teachers. Her
special interest is in the teaching of ethics.
She completed 15 years in Law Centres, 5 years in legal aid firms and 9 years at the
College of Law before joining London South Bank University. Before becoming a lawyer,
Sara worked with refugees from Chile for over 6 years as a bi-lingual social worker, she
speaks Spanish fluently.
Sara is Past President of South London Law Society and Past President of the City of
Westminster & Holborn Law Society. She is a member of the Law Society’s Council,
representing solicitors in the voluntary sector, and is Chair of the Law Society’s Human
Rights Committee. She is President of the Human Rights Commission for the Federation of
European Bar Associations, and Chair of the Colombia Caravana UK Lawyers Group, a
charity which supports human rights lawyers at risk in Colombia, with an international
network of lawyers in 15 jurisidictions.
Sara has extensive experience in human rights advocacy and in equality and diversity
issues.
1. Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
The most inspiring human rights practitioners are those who carry on despite threats to their
lives, and to the lives of their colleagues, when they have already mourned the loss of their
colleagues. Over 400 human rights lawyers have been killed in Colombia since 1990, and
human rights defenders receive death threats from well organised para-military groups who
terrorise with impunity. No effort is made to investigate or prosecute the perpetrators of
these crimes.
2. When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
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I worked with refugees from Chile in the 1970’s as part of my political commitment to the rule
of law, access to justice and respect for human rights and met many fine people who had
suffered torture as political prisoners. As a postgraduate research student I had done field
work in Chile in 1971-72 and had seen first hand the enthusiasm, hope and optimism of
ordinary people as life began to change for the better. When Pinochet seized power in a
military coup in 1973 this was the moment when I knew I had to fight for human rights for the
rest of my life. In the 1980’s I worked as a social security tribunal representative for 10
years and realised that people have to fight to enforce their most basic human rights like
food on the table. In the 1990’s I qualified as a solicitor and became a housing (landlord &
tenant ) specialist, using the law to help homeless people, and to stop people losing their
homes because of poverty.
3. Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
Yes, when I started working with refugees I was a volunteer. Later I went on placement to a
Law Centre and found working there really reaches people who are denied basic human
rights. It is very important that law students take up every opportunity they get to do
voluntary work and go on placement. My route was through working as a volunteer in Law
Centres. The first Law Centre I worked in (1980) was in Deptford, South London, and I was
on placement for 3 months (Housing : Landlord & Tenant). The second was for 6 months
(Social Security and Debt).
4. What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far?
I participated as a signatory to the 60th Anniversary document which commemorated the
signing in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Paris (December 2008). It
was an honour to meet one of the original signatories at the event, a lawyer who still
practices in Paris in his 90’s.
5. What has been the low-point?
The deaths of Chilean refugees (friends) who returned to Chile in the 1970’s and 1980’s,
and the deaths of Colombian lawyers over the last few years, including a law student who
volunteered as a human rights defender who was killed in December 2010. The UK lawyers
who are members of the Colombia Caravana met this student when in Colombia undertaking
investigation into the situation of human rights lawyers, it is so hard to believe he is dead.
6. Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
Employers who oppose the repeal of the Default Retirement Age legislation are lobbying the
Government to delay the implementation (scheduled for 6th April 2011). Employers who only
count the cost of employing and fail to recognise the value of employing older people for
their wealth of experience are shortsighted. Early retirement is sometimes the death knell for
people who have been rejected by society. Consideration by Government of older people’s
human rights is vital. A society is judged by how it treats it’s most vulnerable and
marginalised people.
7. What is your favourite human right?
The right to a fair trial because as lawyers it is a right that we must uphold daily and can do
so.
8. Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
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Peace Brigades International who support human rights lawyers at risk in Mexico, Colombia,
Guatemala, Nepal and Indonesia by providing volunteers to accompany these lawyers
everywhere in their daily work. PBI has launched a solidarity campaign called Lawyers at
Risk which recruits lawyers to support the work of human rights lawyers at risk.
9. What is your dream job?
U N Special Rapporteur on Human Rights
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
Never
11. What was the last book you read?
Poverty First Hand - Poor people speak for themselves by Peter Beresford, David Green,
Ruth Lister and Kirsty Woodard for Child Poverty Action Group (1999) The book has a
quote from The UN Development Programme 1997: "Poor people must organise for
collective action to influence the circumstances and decisions affecting their lives. To
advance their interests, their voices must be heard in the corridors of power" Fifteen
years later this comment is still much needed and should be heeded.
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Samantha Ede
MoJ
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Alison Ewart
DLA Piper
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Jonathan Exten – Wright
DLA Piper
Jonathan Exten-Wright is a partner in DLA Piper's employment team, and is a member of
the Law Society's International Action Team, and Business and Human Rights Advisory
Group. He recently co-authored a review of alleged human rights abuses in a country in the
Middle East.
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Alison Gerry
Doughty Street Chambers
Alison Gerry specialises in prison law, mental health, actions against the police, inquests
and related public law. Alison has particular expertise in international human rights law, and
the European Convention on Human Rights. She has conducted human rights training on
behalf of the Council of Europe, in Albania, Turkey and in Serbia, and for the British Council
and for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Alison’s notable cases include the House of Lords case of Van Colle and another v Chief
Constable of the Hertfordshire Police (Secretary of State for the Home Department and
others intervening) [2008] 3 WLR 593 in which she was junior counsel for the NGO
interveners. The joined cases concerned claims in negligence and breaches of Article 2
where the police were alleged to have failed to protect the lives of the victims of crimes. She
has also appeared as junior counsel in the Privy Council in Atain Takitota v. The (1) Attorney
General, (2) The Director of Immigration (3) Minister of National Security, Appeal No 71 of
2007, where she represented a Petitioner who had been unlawfully detained for over 8 years
in prison in the Bahamas.
Alison was junior counsel in the successful group litigation claim against the Home office
concerning the treatment of opiate dependant prisoners, in which the Home Office conceded
liability in negligence, breach of human rights and assault. Alison was also junior counsel in
a group litigation claim being brought by nearly 30,000 claimants in the Ivory Coast for
personal injuries following the dumping of toxic waste at various sites in Abijan, Ivory Coast.
Alison has also appeared in the Privy Council in death penalty cases, including in Boyce &
Joseph v R (2005) 1 AC 400 (challenge to the mandatory death penalty in Barbados) and
successfully before the Inter American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica. She is also
now advising African lawyers who are bringing similar challenges to the death penalty in
Malawi, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia.
Before joining Doughty Street, Alison Gerry was the Human Rights Adviser to the Consular
Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. She is the Chair of the
Human Rights Lawyers Association.
In July 2007 Alison was awarded the LAPG Young legal aid barrister of the year award and
in December 2006 she was also short listed for the Peter Duffy Award (formerly the Young
Human Rights Lawyer of the Year Award). She was nominated for “her tenacity and
dedication to grassroots human rights issues", and "for her work in representing vulnerable
people and for her battles on behalf of the families of prisoners and mental health patients
who have died in detention".
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Camilla Graham Wood
Birnberg Peirce & Partners
Camilla Graham Wood is a solicitor at Birnberg Peirce & Partners specialising in Civil
Actions and asylum cases. Her work includes actions against the police and civil claims for
unlawful detention.
Camilla is on the Executive Committee for Young Legal Aid Lawyers. Young Legal Aid
Lawyers (YLAL) is a group of lawyers who are committed to practising in those areas of law,
both criminal and civil, that have traditionally been publicly funded. YLAL believes that the
provision of good quality publicly funded legal help is essential to protecting the interests of
the vulnerable in society and upholding the rule of law. http://www.younglegalaidlawyers.org/
Camilla is a Director of the Colombia Caravana UK Lawyers Group. The Colombian
Caravana UK Lawyers Group is a group of international lawyers that monitor the human
rights abuses faced by legal professionals in Colombia. The organisation is committed to
supporting human rights lawyers at risk through awareness raising and educational activities
as well as observation missions to Colombia to report on the situation impacting the legal
community. Members of the group have undertaken international legal observation missions
to Colombia in 2008, 2010 and 2012 as part of a commitment by the International Caravana
of Lawyers to continue to monitor the human rights abuses faced by legal professionals in
Colombia. http://www.colombiancaravana.org.uk/
1. Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
The people I work with, Kat Craig who seems fits more into one day that is humanly
possible, idealistic friends at Young Legal Aid Lawyers relentlessly campaigning to save
legal aid and human rights practitioners throughout the world who face death threats and
harassment. The Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers organised a fantastic event in
February 2012 with Amnesty called Defending Human Rights Defenders
http://www.haldane.org/statements-on-hrds/2012/2/24/defending-human-rights-defendersconference.html The conference set out abuses meted out to human rights defenders in
Belarus, Chechnya, Dagestan, Colombia, Turkey, Palestine and the Philippines and
discussed the importance of international solidarity, criminalisation and victimisation of
human rights campaigners, censorship and media attacks, repression by nonstate actors
and marginalised and contested rights. I would recommend students wanting to pursue a
career in human rights to join the Haldane Society who organise excellent seminars and to
join the Law Society International Action Team who support human rights lawyers facing
persecution.
2. When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
There was not a particular moment. It developed over time. I always hoped I would be in a
position to do a job which had a positive impact but thought I might end up in development
work. I became disillusioned with this after spending time in Cambodia where my
Cambodian friends would ask why the NGO’s were all there when they hated Cambodia and
patronized them. Whilst there are some great NGO’s, the experience made me think that if I
focused on helping individuals I could do more good than working for an NGO who after five
years or more had little to show. This focused me on a career in legal aid.
3. Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
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My first human rights placement was at the Red Cross and I then worked in Cambodia with
Housing Rights Task Force; Legal Aid of Cambodia and was an adviser to Bridges Across
Borders. Whilst at Law School I volunteered at Prisoners Advice Service and did some work
at Redress and started working at the Law Society in the Human Rights Division. My time
with The Law Society ended in the first legal mission to Colombia in support of human rights
lawyers and after that I went to Trinidad as part of the Centre For Capital Punishment
Studies death row internship scholarship. I came back and did a short internship at Justice
and then started working as a legal secretary. I was lucky enough to get quite a few funded
placements. Funding is limited and with University tuition fees and rising cost of law school
working for free is not an option for many people. My advice to students now is to do the
LPC part time so that you can try and find a paralegal or casework job in legal aid.
4. What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far?
I’m still at the early stages of practice but each success for a client is hugely rewarding.
Being told by human rights lawyers in Colombia that most of them would not be alive without
our work was a high but at the same time made you think how much more you could be
doing.
5. What has been the low-point?
Cuts to legal aid in the form of the Legal Aid Sentencing Punishment of Offenders Act and
the more recent consultation which shows that the cuts to legal aid are not about savings
costs but are political and evil. They prevent access to justice and important challenges to
the Government. Also the problems faced by those wanting to pursue a career in human
rights, with legal aid firms closing; the lack of training contracts; ridiculously high course
fees; the prospect of mounting debt; the increasing requirements for work experience and at
the same time rising exploitation of entrants who are used as free labour.
6. Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
Secret evidence. The increasing use of secret evidence and the introduction of closed
material proceedings and the detention of people with severe mental health problems in
immigration removal centres for years and leaving them without treatment. It’s inhumane
and we should be ashamed of how people are treated in immigration detention. Instead the
government views media coverage of these issues as a positive, showing how ‘tough’ they
are on immigrants.
7. What is your favourite human right?
They are all important.
8. Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
I’m a Director for Colombia Caravana UK Lawyers Group so spent a lot of time on that. I
have also done a few fundraising things for the Poppy Project which is a fantastic charity. I
find the work of Inquest inspiring.
9. What is your dream job?
I love what I do now but if I suspend reality I reckon I should have been a rally car diver or
perhaps one of the adrenaline junkies in the Red Bull You Tube videos in a wingsuit or
surfing Jaws.
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
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I tended to do all-nighters revising as a student and when waitressing as you got paid more
for a double shift. Working as a solicitor I don’t think you can produce excellent work if you
pull an all-nighter and my best work comes with sleep and exercise. All-nighters are negative
and counter-productive. Friends from Law School who work in corporate law talk about
all-nighters where the reality is sitting around waiting to be told to do some photocopying.
All-nighters should be for when you’re having fun and can sleep the next day.
11. What was the last book you read?
I read a few books at once but rarely finish any of them. The last one I finished was ‘A just
defiance: the bombmakers, the insurgents and a legendary treason trial’ by Peter Harris. I
am currently reading ‘This is a call. The Life and Times of Dave Grohl’ by Paul Brannigan.
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Nikolaus Grubeck
Doughty Street
Nikolaus Grubeck is a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers. He has a wide-ranging public
and private law practice, with a particular focus on human rights issues and matters relating
to armed conflict. He is a former judicial assistant to Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury.
Before coming to the bar, Nikolaus worked for the United Nations in Afghanistan and the
Sudan. He has also undertaken a range of consultancy and academic assignments in
countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria,
Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Russia (Chechnya).
Some of his recent and current work includes:
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Successful judicial review claim stopping the handover of British-captured
detainees to the Afghan security and intelligence services because of a real risk of
torture and mistreatment.
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Various tort claims regarding the mistreatment and unlawful detention of
individuals in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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A challenge concerning DFID’s compliance with its conditionality policy in the
context of UK aid to Ethiopia, which has been linked to serious human rights
abuses.
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An ECtHR claim on the compatibility of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
with Article 8 of the ECHR.
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A judicial review regarding the procedural requirements in allocating vulnerable
children to youth detention facilities under LASPO 2012.
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Challenging the legality of British involvement in the compilation and operation of
a ‘kill list’ in Afghanistan.
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Advisory work on the sanctions regimes against Iran and Zimbabwe.
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Advising the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on the design and
implementation of a Civilian Casualties Tracking, Analysis and Response Cell
pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 2036 (2012) and 2093 (2013).
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Training Libyan judges and prosecutors on international humanitarian law.
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Death penalty cases in Singapore, Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan.
1. Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
The local practitioners in countries where being involved in human rights work means risking
life and limb. Unlike internationals, even if things go wrong they may well not be able to get
out. It’s a long list but people like those treating rape victims in Eastern Congo, documenting
mass graves in Afghanistan or campaigning for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia all feature.
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2. When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
No specific moment, it just happened this way.
3. Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
Not really. Although after my LLM, I got a Harvard Henigson Human Rights Fellowship,
which funded a year of HR work in the field. That was really helpful.
4. What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far?
I think I’m a bit too junior to answer that question.
5. What has been the low-point?
Having friends and colleagues killed.
6. Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
A lot of my current cases involve issues of jurisdiction and the scope of human rights
obligations abroad. I am also very interested in matters relating to detention, responsibility
for the actions of proxy forces, and sanctions issues.
7. What is your favourite human right?
Not being killed or tortured seems rather important.
8. Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
It’s not human rights per se but the Red Cross does terrific work on the ground. I also
give to the Howard League and assist a number of great local NGOs and individuals
that I have worked with.
9. What is your dream job?
I really enjoy what I am doing at the moment. Let’s see how things go.
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
They do happen...
11. What was the last book you read?
Technically, a very dry legal textbook. But for novels, I just finished 2666 by Bolano.
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Tim Jewell
Ministry of Justice
Tim Jewell is an employed Barrister and Senior Civil Servant. He leads the Information and
Human Rights team in the Legal Directorate of the Ministry of Justice, part of the Treasury
Solicitor's Department. He previously led the Criminal Law team at MoJ, with responsibility
for large parts of the substantive and procedural criminal law, and has held a variety of posts
in other departments. His team is responsible for legal services (including legislation and
litigation) in relation to all domestic, European and international aspects of MoJ's rights work,
including the Human Rights Act, EU Accession to the ECHR, Strasbourg court reform, the
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and various other international agreements, as well as
domestic and European data protection and related matters. Before joining the Government
Legal Service, Tim practised for a while at the self-employed Bar, primarily in planning and
environment work, and from 1991 to 1999 was a Senior Lecturer and the Director of the
Centre for Environmental Law in the School of Law at the University of Southampton.
1. Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
Anyone who is committed, prepared, and critical, and who works well in a team. The same
as any other practitioner, in fact!
2. When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
I don't think I ever had the choice. Rights work is integral to everything GLS (in fact, very
many) lawyers do - one set of letters through the stick of rock. So it's featured in everything
I've done, with varying intensity. In terms of day to day impact, it was the coming into force
while I was at the self-employed Bar of the Human Rights Act which was the most profound
sign of things to come.
3. Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights work?
I've a varied background, and have done a range of placements in both private and public
sectors. These are important choices: lack of information or insight makes them precarious.
4. What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far?
5. What has been the low-point?
I try to think more about what went well, or not, and how to try to improve for next time.
Advising on the rights aspects of the implementation of the Leveson report was
extraordinary, though, as was retrospective criminalisation of genocide. So too has been
work on key cases here and in Strasbourg on the relationship between the ECtHR and
domestic courts. Seeing letters in the papers about things I've been working on, rather less
so...
6. Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
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We're spoiled for choice: judicial dialogue and the role of inter- and supra-national courts;
EU Fundamental Rights; EU Accession to the ECHR; the future shape of information rights.
There are many others.
7. What is your favourite human right?
Seems to me they're each as important as the next. It all depends on context.
8. Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
The UK Environmental Law Association, of which I was a trustee and have been a member
for longer than I like to think about.
9. What is your dream job?
I can't imagine doing a mainstream legal job outside the GLS. It's a huge privilege to work as
a civil servant and lawyer at the heart of government: intellectually and professionally
demanding, fast-moving, incredibly varied, and personally rewarding.
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
We have many intense days in the Government Legal Service; all-nighters are mercifully
rare. The closest recently was preparing for responses to oral questions from an expert UN
committee in Geneva during the periodic assessment of UK compliance with the UN
Convention Against Torture.
11. What was the last book you read?
Between far too much lightweight crime fiction, Alan Paterson's new book on the work of the
Supreme Court: Final Judgment.
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Matthew Jury
McCue & Partners
Matthew undertook his law degree (LLB) at the University of Southampton and his
postgraduate degree (LLM) at Trinity College Dublin.
Matthew is licensed to practise as a Solicitor as well as an attorney in New York. He is an
expert in counter-terrorism litigation, domestic and international human rights law, and public
international law. He is the Managing Partner of McCue & Partners LLP.
Matthew currently assists in the representation of hundreds of victims of terrorism worldwide
in a number of groundbreaking civil prosecutions against the perpetrators, supporters and
financiers of global terrorism.
He has been involved in the representation of a number of individuals detained overseas in
circumstances absent of due process and/or in breach of international standards of
detention. While in the US, Matthew worked in a dual role as a lawyer and as an investigator
and has particular expertise in the application of international law in the context of US state
lethal injection protocols and the execution of the mentally ill.
1. Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
The human rights practitioners I have found to be most inspiring are those that I worked for
and alongside during my time spent in the US assisting on Death Row appeals. It is a lowpaid career that receives little to no positive recognition from the community in which these
people live and practice. They do it only because it the right thing to do and it has to be
done. It is as simple as that. Their moral compass is straight. These are the two most
important reasons to choose a career in human rights.
2. When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
There was no one defining moment. I always knew that wanted a career grounded in some
form of public service. This was reinforced by the fact that, during the course of my legal
studies, commercial law held no interest for me. The combination of these two factors made
my decision to follow a career in human rights almost pre-determined. For me, there was no
other choice. I had legal qualifications skills and I felt that it was my responsibility to use
them for the public benefit.
3. Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
Yes. I undertook a six month internship assisting on Death Row appeals under the
administration of Reprieve. This was carried out the Virgina Capital Representation
Resource Center (VCRRC) in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
4. What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far?
There have been a number of high points. My work directly contributing to the preservation
of the lives of a number of Death Row inmates have included some of them. Here in the UK,
the highest point for me was securing a judgment against the RIRA for 1.6 million on behalf
of the families of the victims of the bombing of Omagh, Northern Ireland, by the Real IRA in
August 1998.
5. What has been the low-point?
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The execution of a number of Death Row inmates on whose cases I assisted on.
6. Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
I am interested in the current Government’s moves to amend existing legislation to restrict
the ability of the public to bring private criminal prosecutions against foreign state officials
who commit crimes against humanity. Traditional human rights mechanisms, such as the
ECHR, are but one way to enforce human rights standards. I am interested in private justice
via the civil and criminal courts to enforce these rights also. These are forums where I
believe real change can be effected and I believe the government should not restrict our
access to them.
7. What is your favourite human right?
The right to life. Surely there is nothing more important and it is from this that every other
right flows.
8. Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
No. There are too many to choose from.
9. What is your dream job?
I’m doing it.
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
Thankfully I have managed to avoid all nighters for a long time now. Most of our cases are
slow burners and if I have to pull an all-nighter to meet a deadline then I am disappointed in
myself for not having been more organised.
11. What was the last book you read?
The Meaning of Hitler by Sebastian Haffner
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Alastair Logan
Retired Solicitor
I am a retired solicitor who practised as a sole practitioner on the high
street for 35 years and then as a Consultant for 6 years. My work
encompassed the usual mix of work in a general practice but I specialised in
family law and human rights. My work in human rights included over 100
applications to the ECHR to remedy denials of human rights to prisoners;
many applications for Judicial Review, miscarriages of justice cases and pro
bono work for domestic violence charities, CAB and for those denied legal
aid. I trained as a mediator in the US in 1965. I acted for the Guildford
Four and the Maguire Seven. I am now an Adviser with the CAB and do pro
bono work for LawWorks and Life After Law. I sit on the Law Society's Human
Rights Committee and the Committee of the Solicitors' International Human
Rights Group.
1. Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
There are so many. I have great respect for Clive Stafford-Smith, James McCloskey of
Centurion Ministries, Gareth Peirce and Public Law Solicitors.
2. When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
I was offered a Legal Aid certificate to act for one of the Guildford Four in 1974. I ended up
acting for all four of them and for all of the Maguire Seven.
3. Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
No, just the hard school of endeavouring to right miscarriages of justice and giving prisoners
access to human rights.
4. What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far?
The release of the Guildford Four and the acquittal of the Maguire Seven.
5. What has been the low-point?
Losing the first appeal in the Guildford Four case.
6. Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
How can the concept of human rights, which has become so ingrained in the framework of
many states’ power, be used to challenge, change and limit that power?
How can state abuses of human rights be effectively challenged?
How does one change cultural perceptions that deny women and children basic human
rights?
7. What is your favourite human right?
Article 6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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8. Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
Human Rights Watch.
9. What is your dream job?
To continue to make a relevant contribution to ensuring respect for human rights.
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
Before I retired from practice in 2010.
11. What was the last book you read?
The Litvinenko File by Martin Sixsmith.
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Cris McCurley
Ben Hoare Bell
Cris is Partner in charge of the International Family Law department at Ben Hoare Bell. She
is a member of UNWomenUK, and an active member of the UN/CEDAW shadow report
writing group. She wrote the CEDAW shadow report chapters on Legal Aid and Access to
Justice, and gave evidence to the UK CEDAW enquiry in Geneva last July. Her areas of
work include working with victims of Trafficking, child, international Child abduction , Forced
Marriage, and Honour Violence and has worked all over South Asia and South East Asia on
various Human Right Projects in the field of VAWG . She is an active campaigner on Human
Rights and access to justice. She is co- chair of the BME women's VAW network.
1.
Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
Hina Jilani and Ashma Jahangir: two sisters from Lahore in Pakistan who, against all the
odds, started a women’s law practice in Lahore . They have done amaz9ong work for
womens rights and human rights in Pakistan, and both have served as president of the
Pakistani Human Rights association. Hina is one of the ‘Elders’ an international group of
elder statesmen and women, who numbred Nelson Mandela, Graca Machal and Jimmy
Carter in their group, who meet to advice the UN about world human rights issues. They
have both served as UN CEDAW commissioners. They have risked their lives to over throw
the oppression of women in Pakistan and beyond.
2.
When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
I come from a coal mining family. My parents were socialists and human rights were in their
blood. My dad was very involved in the NUM. I think the miner’s strike and the Orgreve trial
was hugely influential to me.
Working with BME women whilst doing research on injunctions – see below – in the early
‘80sm there was little recognition of Forced marriage or Honour violence . working with
women who were standing up to their whole community – at risk to themselves in order to
make a difference, was also very influential
3.
Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
Prior to finishing my law Finals, I was employed for a year by LAPG to research the
effectiveness of VAW injunctions. This was straight out of University, and meeting
passionate peploe wok=rking on the front line of Human rights work was completely
inspiring. I was so lucky to fall into that opportunity. It shaped the rest of my life.
4.
What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far
Speaking at the UN about legal aid cuts and the damage to access to justice and Human
Rights in July 2013.
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5.
What has been the low-point?
LASPO. Realising that the current Government does not respect the UN, and plans to scrap
the human Rights act.
6.
Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
Legal aid and access to justice for all , FGM and Honour violence....and trafficking: my main
areas of work.
7.
What is your favourite human right?
has to be the right to a fair trial: Equality before the law. If a society truly has that, then
everything else can be challenged.
8.
Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
Rights of women, Public Law Project, IKROW, IMKAAN, BME women’s VAW network,
CEDAW national shadow report wringing group
9.
What is your dream job?
Some day to do more work with the UN – maybe a CEDAW commissioner.
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
Last week
11. What was the last book you read?
‘When the hills ask for your blood ‘ – a firsthand account of the genocide in Rwanda
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Jesse Nicholls
Garden Court Chambers
Jesse specialises in public law and civil actions against public authorities. He practises in
inquests, prison law, claims against the police and the prison and immigration authorities,
discrimination and equality law, and judicial review arising from the criminal justice system.
Jesse joined Garden Court in October 2013, having completed pupillage and practised as a
tenant at Tooks Chambers. During his legal training Jesse worked on a voluntary basis for
the Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights, the Citizens Advice Bureau at the
Family Division of the High Court, and Islington Legal Advice Centre.
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33
Angela Patrick
Director of Human Rights Policy, JUSTICE
Angela Patrick is a qualified barrister (2003 call), educated at Durham and Cambridge
Universities. Before joining JUSTICE, from 2006 - 2011, she was assistant legal adviser to
the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights. In this role, she advised on a broad
range of human rights issues, from the compatibility of the treatment of detainees with the
UN Convention against Torture to respecting the right to privacy in the operation of the
national DNA database.
Following pupillage at Matrix, Angela practised from Hailsham Chambers. She has held
academic posts at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and
at University College London. She acts as an expert for the International Bar Association
Human Rights Institute, training parliamentarians in emerging democracies and their staff on
international human rights standards and the rule of law. Angela has published and lectured
widely and is a contributing author to Sweet and Maxwell's Human Rights Practice.
JUSTICE is an all-party law reform organisation working on access to justice, human rights
and the rule of law. It is the UK section of the International Commission of Jurists.
For more information about JUSTICE, see www.justice.org.uk or follow @justicehq.
1. Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
It’s a close-call between the human rights defenders working on cases in countries where
abuse is rife and their work is both life-saving and life endangering and anyone still working
in a law centre or a citizens advice bureau. However, if you get a chance to see Albie Sachs
speak, go.
2. When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
A thoroughly unhelpful career guidance computer once told me that I should be an “artist” or
a “judge”.
After deciding I wasn’t going to be the next Tracey Emin, I thought that something practical
with an income was a good idea. Law was the sensible choice. It seemed to have
something to do with social justice and changing unfair “stuff”. A fair few years down the
line, I’m glad to know that it does (sometimes).
3. Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
No. I was hard-up and nervous about debt while studying, so I worked most summers and
evenings. I tried to do paid work in the field, for example, doing research for solicitors
working on human rights cases. However, there was also a fair share of waitressing, drycleaning kilts (a long story) and call centres.
I regret doing no voluntary internships, which would have been far more interesting,
rewarding and valuable to society, but I only took pro-bono and voluntary work once I had an
income. The latest project I’ve been working on is an International Bar Association
programme on the rule of law and human rights for parliaments in developing countries. It’s
been an amazing opportunity to meet and work with human rights campaigners across the
34
world and learn about challenges that we don’t see in the UK. It has been an inspiring
learning experience.
4. What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far?
Either helping persuade a particularly resistant Conservative member of the House of Lords
that the Human Rights Act 1998 was a “good thing” he should champion OR convincing
legal colleagues at the Ugandan Parliament that asking their Government to justify why
legislation complies with their constitution and international human rights standards was a
proper job for the legislative branch.
5. What has been the low-point?
Failing to persuade the same group of Ugandan parliamentary lawyers to recognise that the
international human rights framework was key to the debate on their Anti-Homosexuality
Bill…
6. Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
The politicisation of the debate on the protection of human rights in the UK under the
Coalition Government – both at home and away – is both interesting and worrying.
7. What is your favourite human right?
From someone who has always liked to talk too much, freedom of expression must be up
there. Without it, for example, you can’t take to the streets to complain that your neighbour
has been wrongly arrested and savagely beaten for being a religion/colour/sexuality (delete
as you like) that the majority object to.
8. Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
JUSTICE does an excellent job working on access to justice, the rule of law and human
rights, and student membership is excellent value…
On a global scale, Plan is currently running an inspirational campaign to keep girls in
developing countries in education.
9. What is your dream job?
I’ve only been here for six months, but I think that my new role at JUSTICE has the perfect
combination of public interest litigation and public policy work to out-match all of the other
jobs out there. I feel very privileged to be part of our team.
(I’m not going to be turning my bed into an installation anytime soon…)
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
I’d love to say I’m too organised to have ever done anything as silly as work all night, but
that would be a lie. Working all night is bad for your health, unproductive and incompatible
with a happy home life.
Thankfully, the last time I saw the sunrise in front of my PC was a few years ago. I was
juggling two projects for the JCHR which were time sensitive: producing draft reports on the
Government’s proposed reservations to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities and on the Coroners and Justice Bill (which dealt with restrictions to the National
35
DNA Database, to address the judgment in Marper, reform of the Coronial system, and a
host of other challenging procedural and substantive reforms to the criminal law). Both were
subject to strict parliamentary timetables, both were important and there weren’t enough
hours in the day.
11. What was the last book you read?
For the law geeks (of which I am one), I am currently re-reading Lord Bingham’s Rule of
Law. For the rest of you, I have just finished Starlight by Stella Gibbons (who wrote Cold
Comfort Farm), which, set in 50s post-war London, incorporates an amusing and unusual
combination of pacifism and exorcism.
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Astrid Perry
Leigh Day & Co
Astrid currently assists Martyn Day on a claim brought by the Bodo community in the Niger
Delta against Shell Petroleum Development Company for the environmental damage caused
by two large oil spills. She also assisted on the claim brought by the Mau Mau veterans
against the UK government for the torture suffered at the hands of the British in the lead-up
to Kenyan independence.
Astrid trained as a solicitor at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer before joining Leigh Day on
qualification. Prior to her training contract, Astrid worked as a paralegal at Birnberg Peirce &
Partners working on cases challenging the state’s arbitrary use of anti-terrorism legislation
post-9/11. She also worked as a paralegal at Bindmans LLP both in the criminal and public
law departments.
1.
Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
Gareth Peirce – for her legal brilliance, determination and commitment. And of course my
boss, Martyn Day – for taking on cases others might not and maintaining a great sense of
humour!
2.
When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
I read Nelson Mandela’s autobiography A Long Walk to Freedom when I was 15 – it made
me realise the importance of fighting for what you believe in and that people have the power
to bring about change. It took me 6 years following that realisation to make it to university to
study law following a stint in the music industry.
3.
Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
I did a couple of weeks work experience here and there when I was a student and then did
lots of voluntary work during my training contract, including a three-month secondment to the
Tower Hamlets Law Centre.
What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far
Returning to a remote village in a West-African country to update clients on the progress of
their case against a mining company wielding (and abusing) a lot of power in the region. In
a speech at the end of the meeting the chief of the village told me that bringing the action
against the company had given the community a sense of empowerment and had brought
the realisation that the mistreatment that they had suffered need not be a way of life for them
to be endured. At that moment I fully appreciated why I do the job that I do.
4.
What has been the low-point?
Each time I read something said by Chris Grayling about the legal profession or his plans for
it.
5.
Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
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Access to justice in light of all the recent changes.
6.
What is your favourite human right?
None – they are just all so great!
7.
Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
There are two particularly brilliant local organisations I work with in West Africa. Both are
cash strapped and hounded by the authorities but thanks to the commitment and talent of
their staff they manage to expose local human rights abuses and provide support to those
who need it.
8.
What is your dream job?
The one I am doing!
9.
When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
Never at work!
10. What was the last book you read?
Flat Earth News by Nick Davies. An absolutely terrifying book about the state of the press
that everybody must read.
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Phil Shiner
Public Interest Lawyers
39
40
Martha Spurrier
Doughty Street Chambers
Martha is a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers where she specialises in public law,
inquests and actions against the police. Prior to joining Doughty Street Martha was in-house
counsel at Mind and the Public Law Project and she was a judicial assistant at the Court of
Appeal in 2012. Martha is a contributing editor of "Rights and Freedoms" (Halsbury's Laws:
2013) and the assistant editor of the European Human Rights Law Review. She was a
founder member of the Mental Health in Detention Action Group and is a trustee of the
Centre for the Study of Emotion and Law, as well as sitting on the executive committee of
the Human Rights Lawyers' Association.
1.
Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
All those whose human rights work puts them at risk.
2. When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
I don't think there was a defining moment, but probably an accumulation of several moments
including working at my local prison and seeing the importance of human rights in protecting
prisoners, understanding that human rights could be a powerful tool to force the state to take
action to protect victims of domestic abuse and, in the absence of any religion, thinking that
the human rights framework was a pretty good value system.
3. Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
Yes - I worked for the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre in Budapest for a couple of months,
funded by a Human Rights Lawyers' Association bursary. I also volunteered for Liberty's
human rights advice line and for Rights of Women.
4.
What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far?
I think I'm too junior to say that I've had a human rights career, but the high points of my
work are the same as any other lawyer's: using my skills to stand up for people and
persuading a judge or jury that they need to do the same.
5.
What has been the low-point?
Watching the dismantling of our legal aid system and wondering how human rights will be
enforced in the absence of access to justice.
6.
Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
The role of human rights in securing access to justice.
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7.
What is your favourite human right?
I think if there really was no discrimination at all, we'd live in a much more human rights
compliant world, so Article 14.
8.
Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
Yes, the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre, Liberty, Medical Justice and the Howard
League for Penal Reform.
9.
What is your dream job?
Sometimes it's being a barrister at Doughty Street, sometimes it's whatever the opposite of
being a barrister at Doughty Street is.
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
I do sometimes stay up working until the small hours, but I really try not to and I could not
possibly stay awake all night, let alone work at the same time.
11. What was the last book you read?
"Blankets" by Craig Thompson
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Keir Starmer KCB QC
Doughty Street Chambers
After studying law at Leeds University (LLB) and Oxford University (BCL), Keir Starmer was
called to the Bar in 1987 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 2002. He practised from
Doughty Street Chambers since its inception in 1990 and was appointed Head of Chambers
in 2007. His main areas of practice were human rights, international law, judicial review and
criminal law. He has conducted cases at the highest level and all over the world in those
fields.
He was named as QC of the Year in the field of human rights and public law in 2007 by the
Chambers & Partners directory and in 2005 he won the Bar Council's Sydney Elland
Goldsmith award for his outstanding contribution to pro bono work in challenging the death
penalty throughout the Caribbean and also in Uganda, Kenya and Malawi.
He also wrote several leading textbooks, including the Three Pillars of Liberty : Political
Rights and Freedoms in the UK (1996), European Human Rights Law (1999), Criminal
Justice, Police Powers and Human Rights (2001) and the Human Rights Manual and
Sourcebook for Africa (2005).
From 2003-2008, Keir Starmer was the human rights advisor to the Policing Board in
Northern Ireland. In that capacity he worked with the Policing Board to ensure that the Police
Service of Northern Ireland fully complied with its obligations under the Human Rights Act
1998.
He was Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service from
2008-2013.
As DPP, Keir was responsible for all criminal prosecutions in England and Wales. Among
the complex and sensitive cases arising during his term of office were the cases about
assisted suicide leading to the DPP's guidelines on Assisted Suicide which were issued in
February 2010; the various cases in which members of the House of Commons and the
House of Lords were charged with criminal offences; the successful retrial in the Stephen
Lawrence case; and several so-called street grooming cases.
Keir also tackled difficult policy issues by publishing publicly facing guidelines on matters
such as Violence against Woman and Girls, journalists, social media and Child Sexual
Abuse.
Keir was a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Council from 2008-1010; and a member of
the Sentencing Council from 2010-2013.
Keir is an Honorary Fellow at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University and holds honorary
doctorate degrees from Leeds University and Essex University.
43
Keir has huge experience advising at governmental, corporate and private client levels on all
criminal law, corporate compliance and international law matters. He is currently engaged on
cases from the US, Croatia, Italy, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Northern Ireland.
44
Adam Wagner
One Crown Office Row
Adam practises in human rights, public law and general civil law law. He is a founding editor
of the UK Human Rights Blog and is ranked as a 'leading junior' for civil liberties and human
rights in Chambers and Partners He is on the Attorney General's 'C' panel of counsel to the
Crown. He was longlisted for the 2011 Orwell Prize for his legal blogging and regularly writes
for The Guardian, New Statesman and the Times on human rights law, as well as
commenting regularly on BBC TV and radio.
Adam acts in Judicial Review and human rights claims for defendants and claimants,
focussing on immigration/asylum law, prison law, mental health and unlawful detention
cases. He is currently acting on behalf of a Grime rapper in a human rights challenge to a
gang injunction and for a number of high-profile prisoners in human rights challenges to their
custodial progression.
Adam is regularly instructed in Public Inquiries. He is currently acting for most of the Army
witnesses in the Al-Sweady Public Inquiry. He represented most of the Army witnesses in
the Baha Mousa Public Inquiry and was junior counsel for the Department of Health in the
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry.
Before joining Chambers, Adam graduated from St Anne’s College, Oxford with a first
class degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and received an MA in International
Relations from Columbia University. He also worked as the Chair of a national youth
organisation.
1.
Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
All the usual suspects!
2. When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
When I studied in the United States – they have a quite different attitude to law there. There
is a much stronger sense (certainly outside of the profession) of the importance of
administrative and constitutional law as a check on Executive power and a positive force in
society.
3. Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
I volunteered for the Liberty Advice Line for a year, FRU for two years and for the Public Law
Project for three months. I also worked in a number of human rights organisations in Israel.
4.
What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far
Probably the Baha Mousa Inquiry.
5.
What has been the low-point?
Being an advocate involves a life of high and low points (known as “winning” and “losing”!)
but recently I was involved in a series of immigration detention hunger strike cases which
have been difficult.
45
6.
Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
Legal aid funding for public interest cases.
7.
What is your favourite human right?
Article 10
8.
Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
Not formally. The UKHRB is an NGO! Of sorts.
9.
What is your dream job?
Probably what I’m doing
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
At university.
11. What was the last book you read?
The Dark Tower II by Stephen King [/please insert worthy book if you are disappointed by
that answer]
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Nick Williams
Legal Counsel, Amnesty International
Current role
I am a solicitor and Legal Counsel at Amnesty International (at Amnesty’s International
Secretariat based in London). Our team provides in-house legal support to our global
operations on a range of areas including litigation, governance, intellectual property, privacy,
defamation, compliance and supporting Amnesty’s international operations and membership
work.
Previous roles:
Save the Children UK: Deputy Legal Adviser (2008-2009)
Hogan Lovells: training contract then associate in litigation team. Worked on international
commercial disputes; gained higher rights of audience (2003-2007)
Education
Masters in Human Rights at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences (20072008)
Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Nottingham Law School (2001- 2003)
BA (joint hons) Russian and German languages, University of Leeds (1996-2001)
Volunteer work / memberships
Volunteer work/ internships (2007-8) with the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre
(London), Global Witness (London) and OHCHR (Geneva)
Member of Human Rights Lawyers Association and Amnesty International
Trustee of The Peel Institute, London.
1.
Which human rights practitioners do you find most inspiring?
I find all sorts of people inspiring, but incredibly inspiring are those whose work as human
rights practitioners puts them (and their families or friends) at serious personal risk, for
example the lawyers who work for the Russian human rights group Memorial.
2.
When did you decide to follow a career in human rights? Was there one defining
moment?
I have always been interested in human rights issues, but a defining moment was a visit to
Burma/Myanmar while a law student. I met some members of the political opposition
movement whose ongoing work demonstrated required huge bravery and personal
sacrifice.
3.
Did you do any internships or voluntary placements on your route into human rights
work?
Yes, I did placements at Global Witness (London), European Human Rights Advocacy
Centre (London), and an internship at OHCHR (Geneva)
4.
What has been the high-point of your human rights career so far?
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There are a lot of high-points; I recently worked on a report into migrant workers in Qatar
which was fascinating and which got a lot of traction due to the World Cup there.
5.
What has been the low-point?
No real low points so far working in NGO sector, quite a few previous low points in corporate
law career (working one Christmas day afternoon on a commercial arbitration submission is
one example)
6.
Is there a current human rights debate that you are particularly interested in?
The debate regarding human rights and surveillance, which was ignited last year with the
Snowden allegations
7.
What is your favourite human right?
The right to liberty and security of the person
8.
Do you support the work of a particular human rights NGO?
I’ve been a long time supporter of Amnesty International (and still a member!)
9.
What is your dream job?
I am really enjoying my current job
10. When was the last time that you pulled an all-nighter?
Not since my days in corporate law (7 years ago now)
11. What was the last book you read?
Bob Dylan: Chronicles Volume 1
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Human Rights Organisations
Access to Justice Alliance
The campaign for civil legal aid: the AJA fights for civil litigants to enjoy the same access to
representation as criminal defendants by protecting, reviewing and publicising the need for
such funding. Activities include demonstrations, debates, marches and government
lobbying.
www.accesstojusticealliance.org.uk
Advice Services Alliance
The umbrella body for independent advice services in the UK. Its members are national
networks of voluntary organisations providing advice and help on the law.
www.asauk.org.uk
Advocates for International Development
Lawyers with an international conscience. Poverty and inequality are the order of the day,
and organised action is the response. Comprehensive network of ways to involve yourself,
including campaigns for Millennium Development Goals. Focused towards practitioners,
A4ID operates through organised work groups.
www.a4id.org
AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe)
Advises individuals on the punch that European Human Rights law can pack. Their support
spans the micro (case by case guidance, provided you aren’t trying to skewer the Little Guy)
to the macro (expert materials for those organising conferences etc).
www.airecentre.org
Amicus
Works on death penalty cases in the US. Offers internship opportunities as well as casework volunteer positions and publishes Amicus Journal, covering death penalty issues
worldwide.
www.amicus-alj.org
Amnesty UK
The old favourite. Justice, freedom, fairness and truth. Universal values. Often quoted, often
given short shrift in the real world. Amnesty organise truly international campaigns
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championing human rights wherever they are trampled upon. Current causes include
abolishing the death penalty, ending internet repression, the China situation and violence
against women worldwide. Extensive volunteering opportunities.
www.amnesty.org.uk
Bail for Immigration Detainees
This charity adopts a two-prong approach to protect individuals detained as asylum seekers.
First, campaigning in the political sphere to amend human rights provisions for detainees
and requiring more robust protection mechanisms. Secondly, recruiting volunteers to handle
detainees’ applications to end their detention. Volunteers recruited in London, Oxford and
the South East.
www.biduk.org.uk
Bar Human Rights Committee
Network for human rights-concerned barristers, organising legal research, advocacy training
and publicity in Africa, America, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Russia. Particular focus on
protection of the rule of law and the people upholding it.
http://www.barhumanrights.org.uk
Bar Pro Bono Unit
Barristers have social consciences too. They established an organisation to prove it.
Volunteer a minimum of three days of time and expertise per year and bridge the gaping gulf
between private funding and the legal aid purse. Short registration process, then an
apparently unlimited licence to make law work for people, by working for free.
http://www.barprobono.org.uk/
British Institute of Human Rights
BIHR seek to bring human rights to life by producing and shaping human rights tools, public
policy and practices that empower people to improve their own lives and the lives of others.
They focus on working with the voluntary and third sectors, as well as lobbying government,
running research projects and promoting human rights awareness. BIHR offer many
internship and volunteering opportunities.
www.birhr.org.uk
British Irish Rights Watch
BIRW aims to monitor, support and publicise the people and groups affected by conflict in
Ireland. No affiliations with politics, religion or community. Activities include seminars,
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publications, ad hoc consultation for lawyers, third party interventions and attending public
inquiries. Formidable body of work, recognised via the Beacon Prize for Northern Ireland
2007.
http://www.birw.org/
Campaign Against Criminalising Communities
Opposing laws based upon a pretext of counter-terrorism, campaigning for such laws to be
repealed and defending the right to dissent.
www.campacc.org.uk
Campaign for Freedom of Information
The rubber stamp of secrecy is the enemy, statutory right is the weapon and sustained
campaigning is the bread and butter of this group. Sign up for email updates and prove that
millions of voices are louder than singular action.
www.cfoi.org.uk
Centre for Capital Punishment Studies
Project based at the University of Westminster. Chiefly aimed at researching the death
penalty. Based on the notion that statistics speak louder than assertion, CCPS aims to coordinate NGOs, civil society and the state through research and publication. Attractive
internship programme to places including Jamaica, Malawi and Uganda.
www.wmin.ac.uk/law/
Child Poverty Action Group
Does what it says on the tin; a major force for social and economic justice in the UK. For
lawyers, it is a major publisher of leading reference books, particularly on welfare rights, and
it provides both telephone advice and training courses to welfare rights advisors.
www.cpag.org.uk
Coalition for the International Criminal Court
Network of NGOs supporting the ICC, via a Universal Ratification Campaign and general
work to keep constituent states informed and alive to the workings of the Court. Internships
available in Summer and Autumn in New York and The Hague.
www.iccnow.org
Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
Interesting, varied and up-to-date lectures offered in the Temple in London. Worthwhile
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speakers, usually free attendance and no need to be a fully fledged lawyer to participate.
Advance registration required for some events, but turning up early is usually the best
guarantee.
www.adminlaw.org.uk
1 Crown Office Row's Human Rights Update website
Barristers' chambers 1 Crown Office Row runs a website providing details of developments
in human rights law, and articles on topical matters.
www.1cor.com/humanrights
Death Penalty Project
Campaigns focus upon the Caribbean and Africa with palpable results: 500 lives saved since
1992. Two pronged approach to legal intervention, via helping individual prisoners and
strategic litigation on the public law stage. Plus the research, information dissemination and
publication.
www.deathpenaltyproject.org
Discrimination Law Association
Membership available to anyone who cares about preventing discrimination. Activities
concentrate on conferences, publications. Particularly useful ‘Responses’ section setting out
the DLA position on legislative instruments impacting on discrimination law.
www.discriminationlaw.org.uk
Doughty Street Chambers Human Rights Bulletin
A periodic publication summarising important UK and European human rights cases.
Subscribe at - www.doughtystreet.co.uk/members/join/
Employment Lawyers Association
Extensive roster of events with comprehensive topics without the usual London-centric
locations. Essential for employment law practitioners. Membership heftily discounted for
golden-hearted people working in the voluntary sector.
www.elaweb.org.uk
Equality and Diversity Forum
Networking organisation bringing together previously disparate groups. Core issues include
age, disability, gender, race, religious and sexual orientation discrimination, all set against a
broader human rights backdrop. Consistently active with e-bulletins and frequent online
52
news of previous and future events. Formidable body of publications. Notables include the
long term Human Rights and Justice Seminars at London Metropolitan University.
www.edf.org.uk
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Ensures the Human Rights Act couples bark with bite. Where once the Equal Opportunities
Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, and the Disability Rights Commission
paved the way for human rights monitoring in the UK, the EHRC now treads. Aimed at
ensuring protection and publication for individuals’ right to participate fully and equally, this
non-departmental government body is responsible for its own public funding but politically
independent.
www.equalityhumanrights.com
European Criminal Bar Association
Aimed at monitoring the European Union influence on national criminal justice matters, the
ECBA encourages defence lawyers to contribute, share information and make public
submissions on prospective legislation. Current projects involve the European Arrest
Warrant, Cross Border Financial Crime and the death penalty in China.
www.ecba.org/cms
Free Representation Unit
FRU - touchstone for the aspiring law student. Undertake the training course, grasp
employment or social security law and help litigants (who would otherwise be flying solo)
navigate the system. Personal support from qualified case workers. Hugely rewarding.
www.freerepresentationunit.org.uk
Global Rights
Based at a grass roots level of local activism via field offices in Asia, Africa, Latin America,
Europe and the United States, Global Rights includes volunteers as staff, fellows and
interns.
www.globalrights.org/site
Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
Monthly lectures on diverse and on-the-pulse topics, delivered by in-the-know practitioners,
plus a great publication, Socialist Lawyer.
www.haldane.org/
53
Housing Law Practitioners Association
Heavily involved in responding to legislative proposals for housing law, the social justice
aspect of housing needs no drum roll. Essential for practitioners representing homeless and
vulnerable tenants, HLPA facilitates information sharing between members in addition to
campaigning.
www.hlpa.org.uk/
Howard League for Penal Reform
Current campaigns include ‘Community Sentences Cut Crime’, ‘Real Work in Prison’ and the
obvious ‘Prison Overcrowding’. Independent and pro-active, the Howard League offers one
internship each year and has extensive support for students interested in establishing a
society at their university come September.
www.howardleague.org/
Human Rights Lawyers Association
Excellent, constant stream of lectures on contemporary human rights issues. Bursary
scheme for students seeking funding of related placements and helpful vacancies links to
fellow organisations. Events are free or heavily subsidised for members, students are
welcome and interaction is encouraged. Free student membership.
www.hrla.org.uk/
Human Rights Watch
Defending human rights on a country-by-country basis, the sheer breadth of the
organisation’s influence is awe-inspiring. Extensive employment and internship opportunities
for the human rights devotee.
www.hrw.org/
Immigration Law Practitioners Association
Dedicated to co-ordinating immigration law specialists through training, a robust body of
publications and political updates of Government briefings. Boasts a list of immigration
related job vacancies for those wanting to jump from the volunteering to the professional
boat.
www.ilpa.org.uk
Innocence Network UK
Students helping prisoners overturn wrongful convictions.
www.innocencenetwork.org.uk
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INQUEST
Provides support and advice to people concerned about contentious deaths and navigating
the inquest system. Targeted both towards lawyers and bereaved families. Tri-annual in
house magazine supplements individual campaigns.
www.inquest.org.uk
INTERIGHTS - the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human
Rights
Strategic litigation – focusing upon areas of human rights law (on a global stage) where
there is most potential for development or protection. This work is bolstered by publishing
and disseminating legal information to anyone in need. Amazingly comprehensive news
review, covering hoards of global human rights cases.
www.interights.org
International Commission of Jurists
Sixty eminent jurists represent different legal systems of the globe, dedicated to advancing
human rights via the rule of law. Prides itself on impartiality and objectivity and has a strong
international slant (five regional projects). Unfunded internships programme with rolling
deadline.
www.icj.org
International Federation of Human Rights (Fédération Internationale des ligues
des Droits de l'Homme)
Multi-lingual website, advocating four statutory priorities: assisting victims of human rights
abuses, mobilising member states participation, supporting local NGOs and raising
awareness. A notable thematic priority is prioritising human rights in the fight against
terrorism.
www.fidh.org
International Lawyers Project
Aims to link willing skills of solicitors and barrister and the huge need for pro bono human
rights advice and representation. Operates via a centralised database onto which interested
individuals sign up, then await a request for their help (reasonable expenses are
reimbursed). Dual international and local emphasis.
www.internationallawyersproject.org
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Joint Council for the Welfare of Refugees
Aims to combat racism and discrimination in asylum and immigration cases by providing
support and advice to practitioners with Legal Service Commission contracts. Does not offer
representation directly to applicants. Publishes reasoned responses to legislative initiatives
and organises training courses and one-off seminars.
www.jcwi.org.uk
JUSTICE
Possibly the most lawyerly of the UK's campaigning human rights organisations. A law
reform-motivated group focusing on criminal justice matters, privacy, asylum and
discrimination. Aims to see that the Human Rights Act is worth more than the paper its
written on. Get involved via an annual intern programme, ad hoc volunteering or full-time
employment.
www.justice.org.uk
Law Centres Federation
Central support body for all pro bono Law Centres, offering representation to society’s most
disadvantaged. Offers support and advice to those brave enough to attempt opening a
centre in their own community. Affiliated to the LawWorks project, now run by the Solicitors
Pro Bono Group – see below.
www.lawcentres.org.uk
Lawworks
Solicitors working for free. Yes, really. Includes support for those wanting to establish a pro
bono society within their law school (and compete for a spot in the prestigious Law School
Pro Bono Awards prize-giving), training courses, and volunteering (for practitioners and
students). Regional and London projects.
www.lawworks.org.uk
Legal Action Group
Never lagging behind, promoting equal access to justice to those who need it most.
Extensive publications and a very wide ambit (crime, housing, mental health and more), an
excellent journal and frequent specialist legal updates. Register your interest for free
updates, or join for £30 per year.
www.lag.org.uk
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Legalternatives
Looking for a legal internship? Want it to exactly fit your interests and abilities? Search the
Legalternatives database, gather a wealth of organisation specific information and read
feedback from people who have personal first hand experience of the options listed.
www.legalternatives.co.uk
Liberty
Including the Liberty Guide to Human Rights (www.yourrights.org.uk). Omnipresent,
tirelessly campaigning organisation aiming to keep civil liberties a practical aspect of modern
living, chiefly by influencing government. Student membership from just £1 per month.
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/
Medical Justice
Seeks basic medical rights for detainees and failed asylum seekers in the UK; publishes a
worrying list of case studies in which rights have been denied to individuals. Research
projects allow the Foundation to make submissions to the UN. The Habeas Corpus Project
aims to challenge the legality of indefinite detention through applications to the High Court,
fertile grounds for reform.
www.medicaljustice.org.uk
Mental Disability Advocacy Centre
Working on the human rights of children and adults with actual or perceived intellectual or
psycho-social disabilities. A European Central Asian focus. Volunteering opportunities in its
Budapest office.
www.mdac.info/
Mental Health Lawyers Association
www.mhla.co.uk/
National Critical Lawyers Group
www.nclg.org.uk/
NO2ID
This single-issue group aims to curb government’s pre-occupation with recording and
monitoring its citizens’ movements and activities. Sign up for free updates, make the No 2 ID
pledge and hope no more liberties are taken.
www.nclg.org.uk/
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Oxford Pro Bono Publico
More than just a proof reading organisation: the OPBP supports those preparing submission
documents for a wide variety of purposes. Volunteers must be affiliated with the University of
Oxford and can expect to work closely with high profile NGOs and be exposed to world class
academics.
www.law.ox.ac.uk/opbp
Prison Reform Trust
Aims to ensure prisons are just, humane and effective. Provides critical comment on
prospective prison reform and criminal justice issues. Become a friend of Prison Reform
Trust to receive their Magazine prisonReport and enjoy discounts on specialist publications.
www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk
Prisoners' Advice Service
Provides practical advice (free and confidential) to prisoners in England and Wales, aiming
to ensure they are treated according to Prison Regulations. Direct opportunities to volunteer
as an advisor or support worker.
www.prisonersadvice.org.uk/
Privacy International
Fights to protect the fragile right to privacy, usually the first casualty in the surveillance state.
Based in London, with offices in Washington DC. Campaigns include border security, antiterrorism measures, policy laundering and identity cards.
www.privacyinternational.org/
Public Law Project
PLP aims to increase public authority accountability by providing legal advice directly to
people affected. Opportunities for specialist practitioners to volunteer on the telephone
advice line and students in administrative or legal research capacities.
www.publiclawproject.org.uk/
Refugee Council
One stop shop for refugees’ needs – through four regional offices, the Council offers
representation and advice to those arriving in the UK with no support network and facing
legal proceedings in order to stay. Over 300 volunteers cover everything from football
coaching to serving lunch and teaching English.
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
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Refugee Legal Centre
A national organisation and charity offering legal advice and representation to asylum
seekers and refugees.
www.refugee-legal-centre.org.uk/
Release
Drugs, the law and human rights: Release aims to guide those affected by drug use through
the mire. Offers both a Legal helpline and Legal Outreach project in London. The innovative
Bust Card reminding drug users of their legal rights.
www.release.org.uk/
Reprieve
Internationally campaigning for prisoners denied justice by various governments through
litigation investigation and public education. Excellently regarded US Internships allows law
students to work directly on death row projects. Wealth of experience with Guantanamo Bay
detainees.
www.reprieve.org.uk/
Rethinking Crime and Punishment
Prison has never been a hotter agenda topic – this strategic initiative of the Esmée Fairbairn
Foundation aims to implement findings about how effective our punishment system is.
Follow the Project’s progress by reading reports online.
www.rethinking.org.uk/
Rights International
Fights for protection of the rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Campaign methods include a Brief Bank, with downloadable model human rights appeal
templates, research guide and on going publications programme. Boasts the Frank C
Newham Internship programme and Law School consortium, allowing educational
establishments to be directly involved.
www.rightsinternational.org/
Rights of Women
Maintains a popular telephone helpline advising the public and publishes information sheets
on every legal issue impacting on women’s lives specifically. Sports the two hallmarks of a
support charity: free and confidential, and is currently recruiting legally qualified volunteers.
www.rightsofwomen.org.uk
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Solicitors' International Human Rights Group
Supporting human rights protections by herding solicitors into a hive of voluntary activity. A
massive twelve separate working groups, including the death penalty and human trafficking.
Online forum for members and free entry to compelling monthly speaker event, covering upto-the-minute legal issues.
http://sites.google.com/a/sihrg.org/solicitors-international-human-rights-group/Home
Social Security Law Practitioners Association
Organises meetings and other happenings for lawyers and specialist advisers working in the
social security law field.
www.sslpa.org.uk/
Statewatch
Keeps an eye on the State whilst it keeps an eye on us. Dedicated to maintaining civil
liberties and democratic standards in Europe, by campaigning and publicity. Services
include a database of 24,000 articles whilst current projects relate to CIA rendition, border
wars and asylum crimes.
www.statewatch.org/
Stonewall
Well known organisation that aims to ensure equal treatment for lesbian and gay people, by
raising awareness, campaigning against/for legal reform and providing Diversity Champions
to over 300 organisations. And counting.
www.stonewall.org.uk/
Unlock Democracy
What once was Charter 88, now different label on the same constitutionally concerned tin.
Aims to put the people power back into democracy, through campaigning for a written
constitution, elected House of Lords and Citizens’ Convention (direct democracy).
www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/
Young Legal Aid Lawyers
But you don't have to be young - just committed to legal aid and either a student or of no
more than ten years' qualification or call. Membership's free.
www.younglegalaidlawyers.org
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